April 13,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewod NJ, reportedly during the meet and greets currently being held for Council Candidate Alexandra Harwin , Ms. Harwin refuses to answers questions .Instead she speaks for 20 minutes or so . The content of speech is limited to her background and career . Ms. Harwin does not address and of the issues currently facing Ridgewood .
It is also being reported the former Mayor Paul Aronsohn accompanies her to many of those meet and greets suggesting Ms. Harwin is being run for office instead of running for office. It also begs the question will the questions she receives at candidates night from the League of Women Voters be pre approved by Paul Aronsohn?
She looks quie young.
Did she grow up here in Mayberry ?
When and where is candidates night?
Harwin = Aronsohn. That family photo on her web site and flyer should actually show Paul Aronsohn, Roberta and Jeff voigt. That’s the family she’s really a part of.
I’m sensing anti-semetism here. Such a disgrace in what I thought was a diverse community. Shame on you.
how are you sensing it?????????????????
Her website and letter to editor from her friends suggest she will improve the schools…run for BOE then Ms Harwin. Village Council has zero to do w schools…except of course if you favor big development…which you do…which will directly harm our schools. Thanks but no thanks.
VOTE KNUDSEN and SEDON MAY 8th
I’m not sensing anti-Semitism at all. Can you explain where in this post you are getting that from? I ask this with a sincere interest as I am.also Jewish.
Not seeing it in this post at all. There have been moments but not in this one.
Effective, salient, trenchant, relevant, or intelligent criticism of a “progressive” candidate is ALWAYS one or more of the following (so be ready for the accusation when it comes): racism, sexism, bigotry, homophobia, antisemitism, islamophobia, “wrong side of history”, or *fill in slanderous canard here*.
Play the liberal card, if that does not work,
then play the extreme liberal card, if that does not work
call all opponents anti gay, even that does not work
lets bring gun control, if that does not work,
call them Trump supporters, if that does not work –
lets try anti-Semitism.
Can you please focus on LOCAL ISSUES which can be controlled / changed / improved by a council member?
I have a hard time believing she didnt take questions perhaps the 2 Knudsen-sedon stooge who were taping an event in a private home to which they were not invited, left early?
Why all the anonymous comments?! Will not engage with people who cannot for whatever reason or simply don’t have the nerve to backup comments with their identity.
Sensing anti Semitism. How long until this was going to get thrown out there.
First let’s get bogus Jan Phillips to call the council homophobic and see if that’s sticks even though that’s bs and proven to be bs. People dumb and uninvolved enough to buy it bought it.
Then it was only a matter of time. Score aronsohn and crew used their connection to religion to call anyone not supporting Harwin, anti Semitic.
Fact is, they’re pushing their religious connections hard and that’s gross and low.
No one hates someone based on their religion but it sure makes me question the etchics of someone who would claim to be religious and then play that card to their advantage.
Oh wait. Ethics. Hahahaha Paul Aronsohn is running this show and we all know about his ethics.
Paul araonsoh. Answered her questions at th coffee I went to. She didn’t. I gave her a shot. She showed me she doesn’t know a thing.
Harwin did leave event early…you are correct. And she left with Paul Aronsohn.
Patty Cuffe how dare you throw out the anti-semitism card? No one has said anything about ethnicity EXCEPT YOU. People are disgusted with Harwin’s lack of independence, the fact that she is handled by Aronsohn, Halaby, Sonenfeld, her obvious disinterest in discussing ANYTHING with voters. She is a train wreck. How dare you suggest that antisemitism is involved. That is the oldest trick in the book, but it does not work with educated people. We know better.
Patricia Cuffe (28 Richmond Street) – you’re, um, how can I put this politely…. a complete moron. There is no anti-semitism here.
Harwin is a puppet for that loser Paul Aronsohn. That’s all you need to know.
Vote Knudsen and Sedon on May 8!
I’m not in any camp and remained undecided until hearing two candidates speak at coffee. Harwin was pleasant but lacked substance. No grasp on issues, memorized talking points and knows a great deal about herself. Mrs. Harwin did not answer questions. She was accompanied by Paul Aronsohn and Gwenn Hauck. Another coffee was for Knudsen and Sedon and only Knudsen attended. The mayor was gracious and well informed on many issues. She is a wealth of knowledge and discussed issues I was unaware of. Questions were asked and answered without hesitation. Knudsen spoke well of Sedon. Not a fan of Willett. She and Harwin have dirtied themselves by mudslinging and I’m not impressed.
The mayor is a class act.
I voted Knudsen and Albano in 2014 and will be voting Knudsen and Sedon this time.
In my opinion Cuffe is using the anti-Semitism card the same way Harwin is using the inclusion card. Embarrassing for Ridgewood. Starting to have second thoughts about the Harwin crew.
So what if Harwin couldn’t answer a few questions? She has to familiarize herself better some on issues and how is she supposed to know much anyway, she’s not hear that long. I think you people are expecting to much from her.
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you… then you win.
Is it necessary to put in the Street address, what are you trying to accomplish?
Is there a platform for any of the 4 candidates?
If Harwin doesn’t know much about the village because she hasn’t been here very long, how can you possibly expect her to understand what she will be facing if elected? Is Paul going to sit beside her and whisper in her ear? If she truly wanted the position she would have made it a point to learn as much as she could about the village and it’s problems and be able to answer questions herself instead of relying on Paul to fill in the missing blanks. Please vote for Susan and Sedon. They might not be exactly your ideal candidates but they at least know what is going on and can be independent voters–not having to have a verbal link to Harwin’s supporters before she can open her mouth.
1:17 – – yes, that is exactly the plan. Arohnson will not only sit next to Harwin and whistper in her ear, he will make her mouth move and give the answers he wants everyone to hear. That is the definition of a puppet, and she’s a puppet. Sad, I suppose, but some people have no self respect or any notion of their self worth.
Nonetheless, she’s willing to impose herself on the Village if enough people are duped into voting for her.
@richard why are you putting my address which by the way is not correct? Should I expect eggs thrown at my house or burning crosses? Many of you are a bunch of nut cases!
For a town I considered to be made up of mostly educated, professionals I’m starting to see the dark side. Wow.
Also. Harwin. Come to a meeting. You’re either lazy or stupid.
Patricia Cuffe – can you elaborate about your sensing anti-semitism? That’s such a serious and sobering accusation! If it’s true we should all be ashamed, but I’ve been trying to follow things as best I can and I haven’t sensed that. So far it all seems business as usual… There’s been a lot of unpleasantness and even vulgarity, to be sure, but anti-semitism? That’s not an accusation to just throw out there. And if it is out there, please tell those of us who really do care what you know that we don’t. It is a public service to expose such a terrible thing.
I’m Jewish and I’m not sensing any anti-Semitism, except maybe from you Patricia Cuffe. That’s a capital “S” for Semitism and we don’t need you to identify when we are being attacked. You haven’t a clue what anti-Semitism is.
Hilarious. Harwin 3 supporters have come out of the woodwork and are as bright as she is (sarcasm)
Look. She knows nothing. Aronosoh will sell her like the pig he is. Look what they did to poor Gwenn?? Little bobble head. When Saraceno and Paul or Albert would give her the nasty head shake when her drunken ramblings went on too long. She would clam up. Harwin they think you’re a puppet. You don’t even know that. Adorable. Go away now.
“Mrs. Valdes,” thank you so much for inviting me into the conversation. I am one of what you called “the 2 Knudsen-Sedon stooges.”.
I was invited to a coffee at a neighbor’s home for Ms. Harwin by a friend who received an invitation via email. Thank you for documenting the discomfort I experienced when one particular individual there accused me of recording Ms. Harwin’s remarks. It was certainly an odd accusation at a candidate’s coffee and your calling me a “stooge” now certainly punctuates how unwelcome certain people sought to make my friend and I feel there.
I did not record anything. And I didn’t realize that Ms. Harwin’s remarks were a secret, nor did I realize that attendance at her coffees was restricted. Really, her remarks were brief and contentless enough to remember, as she left rather abruptly, well before any of the residents who came to hear her and speak with her.
As a longtime member of the temple where Ms. Harwin’s husband is currently the rabbi, I looked forward to hearing firsthand what she had to say, and perhaps introduce myself and have the opportunity to speak one on one with her about some of the items from her website. My host and hostess for the evening were very welcoming. In fact, my friend (the other “stooge”) and I stayed there chatting with them and others for over an hour after Ms. Harwin left. I made a few new friends there, including my hostess and host, and am looking forward to seeing them at Mayor Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Sedon’s future coffees. These are supposed to be opportunities to meet candidates, hear what they have to say, and ask questions, not secret campaign strategy sessions.
I tried to speak with Ms. Harwin before she left, but she seemed to be avoiding me. I stood there patiently while she kept turning or walking away. Finally, when I asked if there was some other time we could speak, she suggested I contact her husband through the temple. While I have no problem doing that, I came there to speak with a Village Council candidate who apparently does not want to speak with me.
I attended a coffee for Mayor Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Sedon yesterday. What a contrast. A wealth of information and every single question raised was answered. I was one of the last to leave and the candidates were still there. You should go to one. I’m sure you will be made to feel welcome. And there is so much to be learned there about what is going on in the Village, the challenges we face, and how our municipal government is addressing those challenges.